TriMet News

TriMet and Google are teaming up for a first – making Hop Fastpass™ the first virtual transit card available in Android Pay* starting early next year, which also marks the first mobile wallet partnership for TriMet. Beta testing for this integration will start later this month.

About the beta

In December 2017, a select group of TriMet, C-TRAN, and Portland Streetcar beta testers will be able to load a virtual Hop card into Android Pay – giving them the ability to tap their phones to pay for their fares and receive all the benefits of a physical Hop card. Currently, TriMet riders are able to tap their smartphones with Android Pay at a Hop reader and pay for a ride using a debit or credit card, but that is limited to just the purchase of an adult fare.

We’re excited to bring this virtual Hop card into the Android Pay wallet so beta testers can experience all the functionality and benefits of Hop:

Ability to purchase Youth, Honored Citizen or Adult fares.

Easily reload value online or set up auto-reload.

Earn a day pass or month pass with no upfront cost. Once the cost of a day pass is reached, the rest of the rides are free that day. Similarly, once the cost of a month pass is reached, the rest of the rides that month are free.

How do I link my Hop card to Android Pay?

Selected beta testers will need to download the Hop Fastpass mobile app from the Google Play store. Within the mobile app, they can then purchase a Virtual Hop card for Adult, Honored Citizen or Youth fare. From there, they can load a balance to the card, either with a one-time transaction or by registering the virtual card, linking it to a bankcard and selecting auto-pay. Once linked, Android Pay users can tap for every ride and enjoy the same daily and monthly savings that physical Hop card users get.

What is Hop?

Hop is a regional account-based, electronic fare system. Users electronically pay their fare by tapping a card or phone against a reader to ride TriMet, C-TRAN and Portland Streetcar. The system automatically deducts the cost of the ride from the user’s balance. Take two trips—more than 2½ hours apart—in one day and earn a day pass. Learn more about the Hop system.

How the physical Hop card works

Purchase a Hop card at one of a growing number of local retailers. Either load money onto the card at a retail outlet, online at myhopcard.com, using the Hop app or at 1-844-MYHOPCARD. Tap the card on a reader at a TriMet MAX, WES or C-TRAN Vine station or on board a TriMet bus, C-TRAN bus or Portland Streetcar. Tap for every ride to pay the fare.

*Phone compatibility
Android Pay works with Android phones running Kit Kat (4.4) or higher. To make in-store or transit payments, your phone also needs to support NFC (Near Field Communication) and HCE (Host Card Emulation). To check for NFC, look for it in your phone’s Settings app. You can make in-app payments even if your phone does not have HCE.

About INIT

INIT’s (Innovations in Transportation, Inc.) back-end processing software, MOBILEvario, serves as the core intelligence for Hop’s account-based payment fare system. It manages and processes the multi-agency fare structures in real-time, recognizes and processes revenue sharing, as well as manages accounts and automates reconciliations.

As a worldwide leading supplier of integrated ITS and ticketing systems for buses, light rail, and trains, INIT has been assisting transport companies in making public transport more attractive, faster and more efficient for more than 30 years. Today, more than 400 customers rely on our innovative hardware and software solutions.

About CH2M

Headquartered in near Denver, Colorado and with a regional office in Portland, OR, CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. CH2M’s payment systems group has developed innovative fare solutions that optimize clients’ objectives and meet their passenger needs. CH2M has provided technical and project management expertise throughout the planning, development, and implementation of the Hop Fastpass program.

About moovel N.A.

moovel N.A. LLC, a part of moovel Group GmbH, enables seamless multimodal experiences and connected transit commerce through mobile applications, including the Hop Fastpass app and the TriMet Tickets app. The mobile ticketing applications built by moovel N.A. are used by 17 transit authorities in the U.S. and allow customers to book and pay for public transit tickets via their smartphone. This makes moovel N.A. the leading provider of mobile ticketing technology for U.S.-based transit apps. Led by CEO Nat Parker, moovel is headquartered in Portland, OR.

About C-TRAN

C-TRAN operates regular route bus services within Clark County. C-TRAN also provides express commuter services between Clark County, WA and various points in Portland, OR, including downtown and other locations.

About Portland Streetcar

Portland Streetcar operates three lines around 16-miles of track in Portland’s Central City. It has been in operation for 16 years and has serviced over 54 million riders since its inception.

About TriMet

TriMet provides bus, light rail and commuter rail transit services in the Portland, Oregon metro area. We connect people with their community, while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution — making the Portland area a better place to live.